Are you even doing summer in New York if you aren’t spending some time in the Hamptons? Every New Yorker worth their salt has their favorite Hamptons stories…while all of the towns are lovely (think Easthampton, Southampton, Amagansett, Bridgehampton) – Montauk will always be my favorite, as it manages to maintain a laidback beach vibe with the perfect amount of Hamptons snootiness. A summer weekend in Montauk is fun – whether it’s a girls weekend, couples getaway, or family vacation, there is something in Montauk for everyone.
And, the food is really good.
I typically drive down to Montauk from the city on long weekends during the summer (think, Thursday to Sunday). The drive is about fours hours long. There’s a reason Montauk’s nickname is “The End of the World”…Montauk is located at the very Easternmost tip of Long Island and the only way to get out there is a one-lane highway that takes you all the way through the Hamptons. Friday afternoon traffic is egregious.
Once you finally make it to Montauk in one piece, make sure to hit a few of my favorite spots:
The Surf Lodge
First up, we have The Surf Lodge: a great place to eat and drink with friends. The restaurant is right on the water, and has an indoor dining area, outdoor dining deck, as well as both indoor and outdoor bars. The menu feels coastal and Mediterranean, with a lot of Italian seafood and pasta options. (Also, the cocktails are delicious.) This is a really great place to kick off a weekend in Montauk – it feels so beachy! Most of the outdoor tables are on the larger side, so this is a perfect place to come with friends and watch the sun set over the water. After 9pm or so, the outdoor bar area starts to get quite crowded (with the crème de la crème of Montauk’s nightlife crowd), so this is a great place to start off a night out as well.
Navy Beach
Next up, another beachy spot…
Navy Beach is a an adorable, laid-back spot, located on a pebbled beach overlooking the bay. I love this spot and always try to book an outdoor table (you’ll have to call the restaurant for this). The menu is mostly small bites, with a few larger dishes – I’d recommend getting a few different dishes and sharing.
This is a great place to spend a relaxed dinner with friends, sharing plates and soaking up some of the best views in Montauk. I recommend staying for the sunset, it is gorgeous.
(The beach is quite rocky, so plan accordingly with your footwear!)
For a taste of elegance: Gurney’s
No Montauk guide would be complete without mention of both of the Gurney’s resorts and their restaurants (Montauk / Scarpetta Beach, and Star Island / Showfish).
As I was writing this post, however, I discovered that the Gurney’s on Star Island appears to have changed ownership since I was there in August of 2022, and is now called the Montauk Yacht Club. I’ll follow up on this, but it looks like the restaurant and marina still stand, so I’ll go ahead and recommend checking it out based on prior experiences.
Both restaurants are top choices for a delicious dinner, great views, and a relaxed evening at the firepits. The Star Island location has a more marina-esque vibe, while the Montauk location is more beachy. I’ve been to both locations multiple times to eat, get drinks at the firepits, and even for tennis lessons – while you can’t go wrong at either location, they have very similar vibes, so you likely don’t need to fit both into one weekend.
The food was to die for. The menu is very seafood heavy, and pricing is on the steeper side, but every piece of food I put in my mouth was delectable. Also, the bread was phenomenal – I don’t have a photo of it because it was eaten instantly, but I am a bread connoisseur and this was 10/10.
I highly recommend calling ahead and reserving the firepits at the Gurney’s Montauk location – it’s a great option for a more casual drinks night, and the espresso martinis are delicious. If you don’t reserve in advance, you still might be able to get a firepit if you just walk in and they have availability.
There is also a Scarpetta in New York. The menu is mostly pastas and other Italian dishes.
Wölffer Estate Vineyard
Last but not least – this spot is not really in Montauk, but it’s worth making your way there at some point during your trip, and is easy to fit into the drive on the way in or way out. Just a 45 minute drive inland from Montauk is one of my favorite wineries: Wölffer Estate. I often make the trip here on Sunday for a lovely lunch and wine flights at the vineyard before making the drive back to Manhattan.
For food, Wölffer has light bites (think cheese boards, mezze platters), but the real star of the show is the wine. Personally I love getting the wine flights and trying out some of their different blends.
I’d recommend making a reservation ahead of time on their website, especially if you are a larger group.
Want more Wölffer? You’re not alone…
Wölffer Estate wine and the Wölffer Estate vineyard have become incredibly popular, with the result being a few new spots from the brand that are available to try this summer.
Wölffer Wine Stand
Located right next to the vineyard mentioned above, this spot is a more casual outdoor area where you can drink Wölffer wines at picnic tables and gaze at the vineyards. This spot is super popular for sunset and many folks bring their own picnic blankets for laying on the lawn when tables become scarce.
Also, there is the world’s cutest Rosé stand out in front.
Although the wine stand area is almost entirely outdoors, they do not allow pets. Also, the food is much less varied than at the actual vineyard / tasting rooms up the street. But the relaxed vibe of the wine stand area was incredibly refreshing after a “scene-y” Hamptons weekend.
Christian’s
Located in Amagansett (a 15 minute-drive west of Montauk), we stopped here for brunch one day. This is a relatively new restaurant that is capitalizing on the popularity of the Wölffer brand in the Hamptons.
We enjoyed our time here, but I have to say the service was abominable. Since the place is new, maybe they are still figuring out the kinks. But the décor and ambiance were both very aligned with the Wölffer vibe.
You can make a reservation here on Resy In advance.
LUNCH: When the lobster roll craving hits
There are two popular lobster roll spots that line the Montauk Highway as you drive east (LUNCH and the Clam Shack). I prefer LUNCH, which is located on the right side of the road as you drive into Montauk. This place has all of the classic seafood dishes and is definitely worth hitting up.
LUNCH is a little nicer than its neighboring café (The Clam Shack) but both serve up a delicious lobster roll in a relatively casual setting.
Let me know if you’ve tried any of these spots in Montauk and what you thought of them!
